Pillow and blanket system

ABSTRACT

A pillow system includes a hollow pillow casing and a cushioning element therein. The cushioning element includes a blanket or an inflatable airtight bladder, both of which are stored within the pillow. When the blanket is not in use, the blanket is used as the cushion for the pillow. When the blanket is removed from the pillow casing and in use, the bladder can be inflated to cushion the pillow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to pillow. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to inflatable pillows and blankets arranged for travel.

2. State of the Art

Travel pillows are used by travelers in order to provide support and comfort to a user's neck and head. It is known to provide travel pillows constructed with a standard cushion material that is permanently provided as a fill for the pillow. These pillows have an advantage of comfort. However, that comfort comes at the cost of bulk and little other benefit to the traveler. It is also known to provide inflatable travel pillow. These can be collapsed to small size that can be packed away until needed for use. Then, when the traveler desires the comfort of a pillow, the travel pillow can be temporarily inflated by the user via an inflation valve. When the user is done resting, the valve can be opened to deflate the pillow and the pillow can be packed away until needed later.

Both such types of pillows can be used in association with a blanket to further provide comfort to a user during travel. However, it can be bulky and inconvenient for the user to pack both a pillow and a blanket and keep these items together and accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A travel comfort system includes a pillow and a blanket storable within the pillow. The pillow includes a hollow pillow casing, preferably made of fabric. The casing defines an interior, and an opening is defined from outside the casing into the interior. A closure, preferably in the form of a zipper, is provided at the opening. A side of the casing includes a hole, preferably located offset from a center of the casing and more preferably adjacent the closure.

In an embodiment, the casing is preferably rectangular in profile, and includes first and second sides, and first and second long edges and first and second short edges joining the first and second sides. The opening is preferably provided along one of the edges extending between the first and second sides.

An inflatable airtight bladder is provided and sized to be received within the interior of the casing. The bladder is preferably made of vinyl or another flexible plastic. The bladder is preferably removable from the casing, but alternately can be permanently affixed therein. The bladder includes a valve in fluid communication with the interior of the bladder. The valve is arranged such that when the bladder is located in the casing, the valve can be positioned through the hole in the second side and accessed by a user from the exterior of the casing.

The pillow casing and inflatable bladder can be provided in shapes other than rectangular, including, by way of example only, round, crescent shaped and U-shaped.

The blanket of the system is sized such that when the bladder is deflated and the blanket is folded, the blanket can be inserted through the closure and stored entirely within the interior of the casing along with the deflated bladder. When the blanket is inserted in this manner, the pillow can be used as a blanket-stuffed pillow, instead of an air inflated pillow.

The travel comfort system provides a pillow that can support the user interchangeably on a fabric cushion, or on an air cushion. In addition, when the user is supported on an air cushion, the system provides a blanket for use by the user. Further, the blanket can be used even if the user does not want the benefits of any cushion. Such a system is very adaptable to the needs and circumstances of a user during various travel conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first side view of a pillow system described herein.

FIG. 2 is a second side view of the pillow system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an end side view of the pillow system of FIG. 1 , shown looking into the interior through the opening at the side to the inflatable bladder and blanket.

FIG. 4 is a first side view of an inflatable bladder.

FIG. 5 is a second side view of an inflatable bladder.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 , with blanket removed and bladder inflated.

FIG. 7 is a view of a blanket and air bladder inflated pillow from the system of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 , a travel comfort system 10 is shown. The travel comfort system includes a pillow 12 and a blanket 14. The pillow 12 includes a hollow pillow casing 16 and a cushioning element therein. The cushioning element can comprise the blanket 14 or an inflatable airtight bladder 18, discussed below.

The pillow casing 16 has an interior 20, and an opening 22 is defined from outside the casing into the interior. The opening 22 is preferably provided along a first short edge 24 extending between first and second sides 26, 28 of the pillow. A re-closable closure 30, such as a zipper, is preferably provided at the opening 22. Alternatively, another closure such as hook and loop fasteners may be used. The first side 26 includes a hole 32, preferably located adjacent the closure 30. The casing is preferably rectangular in profile, and includes the first and second sides 26, 28, the first short edge 24, a second short edge 34, and first and second long edges 36, 38, with the edges joining the first and second sides 26, 28. A handle or strap 50 is provided to at least one of the first or second sides, or is otherwise attached to the casing. In an embodiment, the strap 50 extends across the first side 26 between the edges 24, 34 and is elastic. The strap 50 can be gripped by a hand of a user or can attach the system 10 to a handle of a piece of luggage. The casing 16 is preferably made of fabric.

In a preferred embodiment, the pillow 12 is intended for travel and is sized appropriately. The pillow 12 is preferably at least 8 inches in length and 4 in width so that it can provide support to a user's head, but preferably no more than 20 inches in length such that it is adapted for portability. Exemplar preferred dimensions in a rectangular configuration include long edges 36, 38 each of approximately 12 inches in length, and short edges 24, 34 each of approximately 8 inches in length. In another embodiment, the pillow is approximately 54 inches in length and has a width of approximately 18 inches, such that it is suitable as a body pillow. “Approximately” is defined within the specification to mean±15 percent. The pillow 12 and pillow casing 16 can be provided in other suitable shapes, including, by way of example only, square, round, crescent shaped, and U-shaped and under appropriate dimensions.

Turning to FIGS. 4 through 6 , the inflatable airtight bladder 18 is provided and sized to be received into the interior of the casing 16 through the opening 22. The bladder 18 is sized to substantially fill the interior 20; i.e., such that outer edges of the bladder 18 approximates the corners and seams of the periphery of the interior of the casing 16 to within 1 inch, and more preferably to within 0.5 inch. In one preferred embodiment, the bladder 18 is also rectangular, and approximately 12 inches in length and 8 inches in width. The bladder is preferably made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) or another flexible inelastic plastic. The bladder 18 is preferably removable from the casing 16 but alternatively can be permanently affixed therein. The bladder 18 includes a valve in fluid communication with the interior of the bladder. The valve 40 is arranged on the bladder 18 such that when the bladder is properly located in the interior of the casing 16, the valve 40 can be positioned through the hole 32 in the first side 26 and accessed by the user from the exterior of the casing (FIG. 2 ).

The blanket 14 (FIGS. 3 and 7 ) is preferably made of a cloth fabric, but may also be made of a polymer, including a reflective mylar sheet and other suitable polymer sheet materials. The blanket 14 is sized such that when the bladder 18 is deflated and the blanket 14 is folded (including rolled, balled, or bunched up), the blanket 14 can be inserted through the opening 22 in the pillow casing 16, fully located within the interior of the pillow casing 16, and stored in the interior of the casing along with the bladder 18. The blanket 14 should be the size of at least a throw for use over a lap and/or upper body while seated in an airplane seat, bus seat, or car seat. One preferred size of the blanket 14, when unfolded, is at least 36 inches in length by 24 inches in width, and more preferably approximately 54 inches in length by approximately 48 inches in width. When the blanket 14 is inserted into the pillow casing 16, the pillow 12 can be used as a blanket-cushioned pillow, rather than an air-cushioned pillow.

The travel comfort system 10 provides a pillow 12 that can support the user interchangeably on a fabric cushion (shown with fabric cushion in FIGS. 1 and 2 ), or on an air cushion (shown in inflated on air cushion in FIG. 7 ). In addition, when the user is supported on an air cushion, the system provides a blanket 14 for use by the user. Further, the blanket 14 can be used even if the user does not want the benefits of any cushion. Such a system is very adaptable to the needs and circumstances of a user during various travel conditions. In addition, while the system is primarily intended for use during travel, it is also anticipated that this convenient and compact system may have use in additional situations, such as for use during situations in which it is necessary to distribute sleep and rest care for many individuals such as within shelters and during emergencies.

There have been described and illustrated herein embodiments of a travel pillow system. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while particular materials, dimensions, and shapes have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that other materials and dimension, shapes can be used as well. Specifically, minimum and maximum size limitations are not requirements of the system, but only preferences. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its scope as claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pillow system, comprising: a) a pillow casing with an exterior surface, an interior space, and an opening; b) an inflatable bladder having an inflation valve, the bladder provided in the interior space and the valve accessible from the outside the pillow casing; and c) a folded fabric blanket provided in the interior space and removable through the opening, wherein, when the folded blanket is provided in the interior space the pillow is expanded and cushioned by the blanket, and when the blanket is removed from interior space and the bladder is inflated via the inflation valve, the pillow is expanded and cushioned by the inflatable bladder.
 2. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the opening has a zippered closure.
 3. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the pillow casing having a hole separate from the opening, and the valve extend through the hole.
 4. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the interior space has a periphery, and the bladder is sized to substantially fill the interior space.
 5. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the pillow casing is rectangular and a short side dimension of at least 4 inches and a long side dimension of at least 8 inches.
 6. The pillow system of claim 5, wherein: the short side dimension is approximately 8 inches and the long side dimension is approximately 12 inches.
 7. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the pillow casing is fabric.
 8. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the inflatable bladder is inelastic.
 9. The pillow system of claim 1, further comprising: a strap attached to the casing and adapted for attaching the casing to a piece of luggage.
 10. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein: the blanket unfolds to a size of at least 30 inches by 40 inches.
 11. A pillow system for a user, comprising: a) a pillow casing with an exterior surface, defining an interior space, and having an opening into the interior space, the opening having a closure; b) an inflatable bladder having an inflation valve, the bladder providable into the interior space such that the valve is accessible to the user from outside the pillow casing; and c) a blanket configurable to fit through the opening and be located completely in the interior space when the blanket is folded and the bladder is deflated, such that either of the inflatable bladder or the blanket can be used as cushioning within the pillow casing to cushion the user.
 12. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the opening has a zippered closure.
 13. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the pillow casing having a hole separate from the opening, and the valve extend through the hole.
 14. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the interior space has a periphery, and the bladder is sized to substantially fill the interior space.
 15. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the pillow casing is rectangular and a short side dimension of at least 4 inches and a long side dimension of at least 8 inches.
 16. The pillow system of claim 15, wherein: the short side dimension is approximately 8 inches and the long side dimension is approximately 12 inches.
 17. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the pillow casing is fabric.
 18. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the inflatable bladder is inelastic.
 19. The pillow system of claim 11, further comprising: a strap attached to the casing for attaching the casing to a piece of luggage.
 20. The pillow system of claim 11, wherein: the blanket unfolds to a size of at least 30 inches by 40 inches. 